"So," Excited and now had a lot of plans in mind, Donghyuck began to bring up the topic for tomorrow's lovely occasion. "Tomorrow is Valentine's Day!"

Should they all watch a movie together?

How about going out of town?

Oh! How about camping? And they can also watch the fireworks display that would be happening on that day.

Donghyuck had a wide smile plastered on his face as he listed down the ideas and the activities he thought of doing tomorrow. The fun plans caused his eyes to sparkle behind the spectacles he's wearing. However, his happiness immediately disappeared when his eyes scanned their table and saw his friends clinging to their own partners.

Chenle resting his head down to Jisung's shoulder while reading book. Their hands were interlocked and Donghyuck saw how Jisung would caress the back of the male's hand with his thumb to ease him from the pressure is having from studying.

Diverting his attention elsewhere, he then caught another couple that were feeding each other. Renjun and Lucas were talking about the recent gossip around campus. Actually, it was Renjun doing all the talking and Lucas was just there to listen and give support— also to feed his adorable boyfriend from time to time.

Okay, whatever. Donghyuck rolled his eyes and decided to talk to his friends that were sitting at both his sides. The excitement quickly turned to disappointment when he noticed both Jeno and Jaemin throwing winks and flying kisses to one another. Donghyuck felt miserable having to be seated in the middle of the two.

Well, he wasn't completely miserable. Donghyuck had his own boyfriend to act all sweet and clingy with. His food. Bacon and veggies, yummy.

Yep, he's miserable.

"I'll watch the new horror movie with Ji." Chenle told him, being the first one to acknowledge the latter's presence. He put his book down and gave his friend a small smile. "Do you want to tag along?"

And be a third wheel? Hard pass.

"We're just going to watch one movie?" Jisung asked, brows furrowed in a questioning manner.

"Ji, I just gave Donghyuck an option." Chenle chuckled, noticing the concern from his boyfriend's tone, probably thinking that he canceled the other movies they planned to watch. "If he wants to watch romance with us then we can reserve him a seat."

"Yeah... No." Watching a horror movie with a couple is one thing. Being a third wheel while watching romance? That is horror itself.

"Lucas and I are going out of town." Renjun joined the conversation.

It caught Donghyuck's full attention because that was what he had in mind a while ago. "Are you going to spend the night outside town?"

"Of course, Man!" Lucas exclaimed, feeling ecstatic at what he and his boyfriend had planned for Valentine's day. "We'll go camping at night."

He badly wanted to join. Donghyuck wanted to tag along, but he didn't like the idea that he's together with a couple. The plan of going out of town and going camping sounded fun inside his head because he knew that it would only be fun if the whole group went along with it.

Another hard pass.

"Well, I'm spending Valentine's with Nana." Jeno uttered in the most infatuated tone.

Everyone at the table showed their disgust at the nickname, and also at how the two were showing too much affection in public. At least this is one thing Donghyuck can relate with his other friends, having to judge Jeno's and Jaemin's relationship.

"Aw, Nono!" Another nickname that they had their faces scrunched in distaste. Jaemin playfully hit his boyfriend who was a person away from him. "Anyway, we'll be spending the day with just us."

"I don't even think Donghyuck wants to tag along." Renjun said, looking away in order to protect his eyes from the two being too lovey-dovey. "Do you?"

"Hell no!" Donghyuck would immediately turn down the offer even if it was available.

"Who will you hang out with?" Jisung asked, not thinking that it would insult the latter's single ass. He was just genuinely asking.

"Definitely not Jaemin and Jeno." Suffering from sitting in between them, Donghyuck dropped his head down to the table and made a loud thud from it. He made sure his glasses won't get a scratch from that painful action.

"You can watch the movies with us."

"No." Donghyuck declined the offer knowing that it was out of pity for him.

"Well go camping, join us."

"Pass." Another invite that he didn't want to be included.

Honestly, he wanted to join. He's dying to join. But the idea of being left out with a couple hurt his pride. The occasion is already enough to make him feel single, he didn't need his friends to rub it on his face.

"Hey, we really won't mind if you tag along." The biggest lie Jisung has ever said. It would have been more believable if it were Chenle saying that.

Donghyuck could only pass him a look of disbelief. It was hard to believe that Jisung was the one insisting for him to join them when the last time Donghyuck did join the two, Jisung kept on standing where Donghyuck can't even stay beside Chenle.

Renjun was about to say the same thing, but Donghyuck had stopped him from doing so by raising his hand in front of his face. "Listen, it's okay. Spend Valentine's with your boyfriends. I don't want to ruin it."

"Are you sure?" Chenle asked, worried for his friend.

He hangs out with Chenle, Jisung is there to block him.

If Donghyuck joins Renjun and Lucas, he'll also have to third wheel the night inside the same tent as them. Shivers.

Jaemin and Jeno are crossed out of the list by default.

What choice did he have to begin with? No choice but to nod his head in reassurance. "You guys! I'm not going to die if I don't have a date tomorrow."

"You'll be sad though." Jeno pointed out, taking this short second in stopping from being whipped towards his boyfriend and at least being worried for a friend.

Jaemin also had concern showing from his eyes. "Donghyuck, don't be sad because sad backwards is 'das' and das not good."

Fixing his glasses in place, Donghyuck placed a hand softly on Jaemin's cheek and made him look away. His blood would continue to boil if he keeps on seeing his face.

The only person who had sense to talk to was Lucas, who remembered something. "I heard Doyoung's group of friends are building a booth in front of that arcade across the university."

"A booth?" It seems like Donghyuck knew where this was going, but he had to make sure if he heard the gossip right.

"Date for rent? I think that was what it was about." Lucas told him.

"I think Doyoung is just trying to sell his friends out." Laughing, Jaemin overheard that group talk about it in the hallway one time. "He's tired of dealing with them."

"Then that would mean... Johnny is there, right?" Nudging the male beside him, Jeno began to tease his friend who's now being a blushing mess. "Hey, your crush is there."

"Why don't you rent him as your date?" Jaemin suggested, "They get the money, you get a date."

Everyone nodded their heads in agreement. It sounded like a win-win situation for both sides. Aside from that, they would also want their friend to experience all the love that Valentine's could give.

Donghyuck didn't need more convincing since it was already enough to know about that booth. "Maybe I will rent a date."

[DATE 4 RENT] PRESENTS:

STARTED — 2019
REVISED — 2024